Governor Hochul Declares State of Emergency and Provides Update on State’s Response to Long Island Brush Fires

State of Emergency Declared To Prioritize Deployment of Ground and Air Support for Immediate Fire Suppression

Four New York National Guard Helicopters Providing Water Drops and Air Support; State Police Providing Drone Support

State Emergency Operations Center Has Been Activated; Office of Fire Prevention and Control Establishes Fire Operations Center, and Activates Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan

Strong Winds and Dry Weather To Continue Sunday

Governor Kathy Hochul today declared a State of Emergency in Suffolk County as multiple brush fires began Saturday afternoon. Currently, more than 30 fire companies are engaged in battling the blaze. At the Governor’s direction, the New York National Guard has four helicopters performing water drops, and a C-130 is supporting aerial monitoring. Additionally, the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control has opened the State Fire Operations Center and activated the state’s Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan to support any resource requests from local fire departments. Numerous other state agencies are providing support via drones, traffic management and personnel as well.

Forecasts indicate isolated wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour (mph) are expected to persist through tomorrow evening. Gusts will decrease slightly overnight to approximately 25 mph before picking up again on Sunday morning up to 40 mph.

“We are deploying resources as quickly as possible, and I have mobilized our agencies, the National Guard and the State Police to provide air and ground support to ensure we keep our Long Islanders safe,” Governor Hochul said. “I’ve declared a state of emergency to secure resources immediately. This is an evolving situation, and air quality is a concern — New Yorkers need to monitor the latest emergency alerts and prepare to evacuate if necessary.”

Safety Recommendations

Ways to reduce potential smoke exposure in the immediate area of the fires include:

• Being aware of your air: Before heading out to work, exercise or to the park with the kids, check the AQI forecast and adjust your outdoor activities if there is poor air quality. Plan ahead by signing up for email air quality alerts.
• Staying inside: Keep windows and doors closed to keep indoor air clean. If smoke gets inside, buy or make your own portable air cleaner to reduce particles indoors, or use HEPA air filters in your HVAC system.
• Wearing a mask: If you must go out, a properly worn N95 mask can filter out large smoke particles, reducing the amount of PM you breathe in.
  • For people who spend time outdoors, when air quality is unhealthy, wearing a well-fitting face mask is recommended. A N95 or KN95 will work best. More information about the New York State Air Quality forecast is available here.
    • To check your location's current air quality, go to www.airnow.gov.
    • Taking it easy: Avoid strenuous outdoor activities that may cause you to breathe heavier.
    • Protecting the vulnerable: Caretakers of children, the elderly and those with asthma should be especially careful. When the AQI is elevated, be sure to limit their outdoor activities to keep them safe.
    • Taking care of four-legged friends: Keep outdoor trips with your pet brief and low-key to protect them from the same nose, eye, throat and lung irritation people experience.

Permits Filed for 354 East 194th Street in Fordham, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a nine-story residential building at 354 East 194th Street in Fordham, The Bronx. Located between Marion Avenue and Decatur Street, the lot is near the Kingsbridge Road subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Westorchard Management is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 90-foot-tall development will yield 38,160 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 45 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 848 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a 30-foot-long rear yard.

Leandro Nils Dickson Architect is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Former Refugee Pleads Guilty and Admits to Supporting ISIS

 

A former Iraqi refugee and legal permanent resident of Richmond, Texas, has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Abdulrahman Mohammed Hafedh Alqaysi, 28, admitted to providing material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

From 2015 to 2020, Alqaysi provided his computer expertise to develop and post logos for a media arm of the ISIS group known as the Kalachnikov team. He further sent hacking videos and instructions to ISIS members in addition to stolen credit card information and fraudulently created identity documents.

U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett accepted the plea and has set sentencing for June 5. Alqaysi faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Alqaysi has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The FBI Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.

The New Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Announcing Our 2025 Bronx Chamber Global Getaway Destination!

 

2025 Global Getaway.... CROATIA Are you a Game of Thrones fan? Do you love breathtaking architecture? Have you been dreaming of swimming in crystal-clear waters? Then this trip is for you! This year, our Bronx Chamber Global Getaway takes us to the stunning shores of Croatia—a country known for its rich history, picturesque coastal towns, and world-famous beaches. From medieval cities to the sparkling Adriatic, this is a journey you won’t want to miss!

CURIOUS ABOUT THE TRIP?

Join our upcoming webinar to learn everything you need to know—including itinerary highlights, pricing, and what to expect. Whether you're already considering joining us or just want to learn more, this is the perfect opportunity to get all your questions answered! Register for the Information Session Click Here to Download Itinerary Click Here to Book Today Using the Code - QFIPBL

Attorney General James Announces Settlement with App Developer for Failing to Protect Young Users’ Privacy

 

Saturn Technologies Failed to Verify Users’ School Email and Age to Ensure They Were High School Students

App Developer to Pay $650,000 in Penalties and Strengthen Privacy for Young Users

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a settlement with Saturn Technologies, a developer of an app called Saturn used by high school students, for failing to protect young users’ privacy. Saturn allows high school students to create a personal calendar, message other members, share social media accounts, join groups, and know where other users are located based on their calendars. Saturn Technologies claimed that its app only allowed users from the same high school to interact with each other. However, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation found that the company failed to verify users’ school email and age to ensure they were high school students and allowed users from different high schools to interact with each other. As a result of today’s settlement, Saturn Technologies must pay $650,000 in penalties and significantly change its practices to protect users.

“The Saturn App helps students stay up to date with school-related events, sports, exams, and homework, but it failed to protect young users’ safety and privacy,” said Attorney General James. “Saturn Technologies should have strictly verified users to ensure that they were actually high school students and should have made sure students were interacting with others in their high school, not strangers. With this settlement, Saturn Technologies will have to update its practices, better protect users, and keep its promises. My top priority is always to stand up for New Yorkers’ safety, especially when it comes to vulnerable youth.”

The Saturn app is a social network built around a customized calendar for high school students. The app allows students to choose their high school community and share personal information with that high school community, such as their name, picture, biography, social media links, and school schedule. Students could also befriend other users in their school and chat with them. Saturn Technologies promised users that their platform was limited to high school students who had been verified to attend the same school. Initially, Saturn required all app users to verify their membership in a particular high school community using their high school email credentials.  

However, OAG found that in 2021, Saturn Technologies made email-based user verification optional and did not notify users of the change or modify the safety promises it had previously made. Saturn Technologies also turned off user verification for more than 4,000 high schools between 2021 and 2023, allowing anyone to join the students’ high school community and access their schedules and other personal information.

The OAG investigation also found that after Saturn Technologies made school email credential verification optional in 2021, it began to use unproven and untested user verification methods. One unproven method of verifying users as members of a high school community was checking whether they appeared in the phone contact books of as few as three other users. Another unproven method of verifying users as members of a high school community was confirming that the user was accepted as SaturnApp “friends” with as few as one other user. These methods of verification are not strong enough to confirm that a user belongs to a certain high school community.

The OAG’s investigation also determined that Saturn Technologies:

• Did not screen new users based on birth date to confirm that they were high school-aged until August 2023;
• Promoted its app through other high school students without disclosing that they were compensated for their promotions;
• Made a copy of users’ contact books (with names, personal phone numbers, and other contact information) and continued using the copies even if the user changed their phone settings to deny the app access to their contact book; and
• Failed to keep sufficient records regarding data privacy, data permissions, user verification, and user privacy. 

This settlement requires Saturn Technologies to notify current users regarding verification changes to its app and provide users with options to modify their privacy settings. The company is also required to provide all current and future users under the age of 18 with enhanced privacy options, such as hiding social media accounts from non-friends. Saturn will also prompt all users under 18 to review their privacy settings every six months. In addition, Saturn Technologies is prohibited from making any future claims about user safety or user verification unless the company has a reasonable basis for making the claim based on competent and reliable scientific evidence.

This settlement also requires Saturn Technologies to:

• Limit the visibility of information about non-Saturn-using students that other Saturn users may enter into the app, such as the non-Saturn user’s class enrollment or event attendance;
• Allow teachers to block their name, initials, or other personal identifier from appearing in the app’s class schedule feature;
• Delete retained copies of the phone contact books of certain users; and
• Hide the personal information of current users under 18 until Saturn Technologies obtains informed consent to the new Saturn app terms. 

Saturn Technologies is also required to pay $650,000 in penalties and costs to the state. The company will pay $200,000 immediately and $450,000 will be suspended to ensure SaturnTechnologies’ compliance with the settlement terms.

DHS Ends Collective Bargaining for TSA’s Transportation Security Officers, Enhancing Safety, Efficiency, and Organizational Agility

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it is ending collective bargaining for the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Transportation Security Officers, which has constrained TSA’s chief mission: to safeguard our transportation systems and keep Americans safe.

Eliminating collective bargaining removes bureaucratic hurdles that will strengthen workforce agility enhance productivity and resiliency, while also jumpstarting innovation.

Making America’s Transportation Networks Resilient Again

Gaps in benefit programs, including non-verifiable Family and Medical Leave, are being exploited by a select few poor performers, placing greater burden on TSOs at the expense of American travelers and taxpayers.

This includes instances, where a TSO requested sick leave seven months in advance.

TSA has more people doing full-time union work than we have performing screening functions at 86% of our airports. Of the 432 federalized airports, 374 airports have fewer than 200 TSA Officers to preform screening functions.

Nearly 200 TSA Officers are paid by the government but work full-time on union matters. These people do not retain certification to perform screening functions. Additionally, in a recent TSA employee survey, over 60% said poor performers are allowed to stay employed and, not surprisingly, continue to not perform.

Fighting for TSA Workers

The Transportation Security officers are losing their hard-earned dollars to a union that did not represent or protect their interests. The union has hindered merit-based performance recognition and advancement—that's not the American way.

By eliminating the collective bargaining agreement, Transportation Security Officers will now have opportunities based on their performance, not longevity or union membership.

A statement from a DHS Spokesperson is below:

“Thanks to Secretary Noem’s action, Transportation Security Officers will no longer lose their hard-earned dollars to a union that does not represent them. The Trump Administration is committed returning to merit-based hiring and firing policies.

“This action will ensure Americans will have a more effective and modernized workforces across the nation’s transportation networks. TSA is renewing its commitment to providing a quick and secure travel process for Americans.” 

New York Woman Pleads Guilty for Role in Deadly Alien Smuggling Conspiracy on the Northern Border

 

A New York woman pleaded guilty for her role in a deadly human smuggling conspiracy that left a family of four, including two children under the age of three, dead in the St. Lawrence River.

According to court documents, Janet Terrance, 45, of Hogansburg, conspired with five others to bring Indian and Romanian nationals into the United States for private financial gain. Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, 31, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 43, both of Akwesasne-Mohawk, New York, entered guilty pleas on Jan. 23, 2025, and Oct. 8, 2024, respectively.

“The defendant and her coconspirators — fueled by greed, indifference, and recklessness — smuggled aliens via vehicle and boat across the U.S.-Canada border in dangerous weather conditions,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “They endangered the lives of two small children and their parents for profit, resulting in the family’s tragic deaths. Dismantling transnational criminal organizations that smuggle people into and throughout the United States is a top priority for the Department of Justice.”

“A family of four died because a smuggling organization put them in harm’s way for profit,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel Hanlon for the Northern District of New York. “Our top priority is the prosecution and dismantling of smuggling organizations. By securing our northern border, we aim to avoid more tragedies like this one.”

According to court documents, Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow worked with a human smuggling organization (HSO) on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation (AMIR) and in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, that smuggled aliens from mainland Cornwall to Cornwall Island, and then into northern New York. The HSO routinely smuggled aliens from various countries into the United States. The HSO arranged for aliens to stay in local motels in Cornwall before transporting the aliens to the AMIR to stage the aliens on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Members of the HSO would then transport the aliens by boat across the St. Lawrence River to later be driven into New York.

Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow admitted in their plea agreements that in late March 2023, the co-conspirators were employed to illegally transport a Romanian family of four — mother, father, one-year-old boy, and two-year-old girl — from Cornwall into New York. The children were Canadian citizens. Both Montour and Terrance admitted that they were hired to transport the Romanian family to the AMIR from mainland Cornwall.

Montour admitted that he was aware of the dangerous weather conditions on March 29, 2023 — high winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility — yet the family of four was loaded into a small boat by another co-conspirator to cross the St. Lawrence River. The boat capsized, and the family died as a result.

“The tragic deaths of two innocent, unknowing toddlers and their parents underscores the devastating impacts of alien smuggling,” said Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Buffalo. “Janet Terrance and her co-conspirators moved forward with this smuggling attempt despite the dangerous conditions and sheer illegality of the act, placing these victims in the situation that ultimately killed them. ICE HSI Massena is committed to enforcing U.S. laws at our border to protect the safety and the security of our communities.”

“The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service is dedicated to keeping our community safe,” said Acting AMPS Chief Ranatiiostha Swamp. “By working closely with Homeland Security on this investigation, we are enhancing efforts to combat human smuggling and cross-border illegal activity, ensuring the safety and security of our territory.”

Montour pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain, and three counts of alien smuggling resulting in death. Montour faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the conspiracy and alien smuggling for financial gain counts and a mandatory penalty of life in prison on the alien smuggling resulting in death counts.

Sharrow and Terrance pleaded guilty to two counts and one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, respectively, and each to four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain. They each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy counts and two of the alien smuggling for financial gain counts and a mandatory minimum of five years and maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on two of the alien smuggling for financial gain counts.

A federal district court judge will determine the defendants’ sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

HSI Massena engaged in an extensive years-long investigation of the case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., CBP’s National Targeting Center, New York State Police, Canada Border Services Agency, AMPS, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Cornwall Police Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests.

Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.

The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

NYS Inspector General - Welfare Inspector General Releases 2024 Annual Report

 

New York State Welfare Inspector General Lucy Lang announced the release of the Office of the Welfare Inspector General’s (OWIG) 2024 Annual Report, highlighting key investigations and enforcement efforts to combat fraud and abuse in the state’s public assistance programs. The report underscores OWIG’s commitment to protecting public resources and ensuring the integrity of New York’s welfare system.

 

“The OWIG Annual Report reflects our dedication to safeguarding public assistance programs from fraud and abuse,” said New York State Welfare Inspector General Lucy Lang. “We understand the critical role these programs play for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, and we are committed to ensuring that benefits remain available to those who truly need them.”

 

Since IG Lang appointed Andrew Weiss OWIG’s Attorney-in-Charge (AIC) in August 2024, AIC Weiss has placed a strong emphasis on oversight practices, focusing on investigations, agency collaboration, and comprehensive training initiatives. Under his leadership, OWIG handled 990 complaints statewide in 2024, exposing fraudulent schemes including everything from identity theft to exploit pandemic unemployment insurance, to misrepresentation of income and employment status to unlawfully collect disability and SNAP benefits. These efforts resulted in nine prosecutions, pleas, and sentencings, with nearly $600,000 in court-ordered restitution.

 

OWIG also expanded its investigative reach through interagency collaboration, working with local, state, and federal partners. OWIG’s Managing Investigator Jason Fazio served on the Department of Justice’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, and Inspector General Lang met with then-U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Inspector General Larry Turner to reinforce joint efforts against unemployment insurance fraud. With DOL’s Office of the Inspector General identifying nearly $47 billion in potential fraud and over 2,000 pandemic-related criminal charges since 2020, these partnerships highlight OWIG’s commitment to independent oversight and financial accountability.

 

In addition to enforcement efforts, OWIG provided training and support to local social services districts, assisted in eligibility reviews, and responded to public and investigative inquiries related to social services access, child welfare, and benefit eligibility.

 

The full 2024 OWIG Annual Report can be accessed here or by visiting ig.ny.gov.

 

For more updates on OWIG’s work, follow @NewYorkStateIG on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Allegations of welfare fraud, abuse, misconduct, or waste can be reported by calling 1-800-DO-RIGHT, submitting a report online at ig.ny.gov, or sending a direct message on social media.